5 Simple Ways to Create a Balance Sheet

A balance sheet is an essential way to evaluate a business’ financial health, and can be calculated every month, quarter or half-year to create a snapshot of a company’s net worth.

In this article we will be discussing how to calculate an annual balance sheet for a business. Creating an annual balance sheet which will help you evaluate the equilibrium between your company’s assets against its liabilities, to determine the overall financial strength and value of your business. For an example of a full balance sheet, click here or scroll down to see the example at the end.

1. Understand the Basic Equation

The following equation is a simplified representation of what a Balance Sheet calculates: the total sum of your company’s assets equals the value of the company’s liabilities and owner’s equity.

As with any math equation, you can of course play around with the equation to isolate one category. Most business owners and investors use the following equation to calculate the value of the company’s equity.

2. Calculate Assets

Assets, money, investments and products the business owns that can be converted into cash, are what put companies in the financial positive. A thriving company should have assets that are greater than the sum of its liabilities; this creates value in the company’s equity or stock, and opens up opportunities for financing.

It’s important to list your assets by their liquidity—the facility by which they can be turned into cash—starting with cash itself and moving into long-term investments at the end of the list. For the purpose of an annual balance sheet, you can separate your list between “Current Assets,” anything that can be converted into cash within a year or less, and “Fixed Assets,” long-term possessions that can be sold or that retain value down the line, minus depreciation.

“Current Assets” may include:

Cash: all money in checking or savings accounts

Securities: investments, stocks, bonds, etc.

Accounts Receivable: money owed to the business by a client or customer

Inventory: any products or materials that have already been created or acquired for the purpose of sale

Pre-paid Insurance: any payments made in advance for business insurance coverage or services (this tends to be paid in advance for the year).

“Fixed Assets” may include:

Supplies: important objects used for business operations (manufacturing equipment, computers, office furniture, company cars, etc.)

Intangible Assets: intellectual property such as patents, copyrights, trademarks and other company rights that retain intrinsic value

3. Determine Liabilities

Liabilities are the negative part of the equation; operational costs, debt and material expenses. Generally speaking, the lower your liabilities, the greater the value of your company (and equity) can be. “Current Liabilities” include cash spent, as well as any debts that must be paid out within one year, while “Fixed Liabilities” refer to bills due anytime after one year.

“Current Liabilities” may include:

Accounts Payable: money owed by a business to its suppliers or partners

4. Equity Valuation

Owner’s Equity = Assets – Liabilities

The value of your assets minus your liabilities will result in an estimation of the value of your company’s capital. If this equation results in a negative net worth, this can be dangerous for a small business; it will make it difficult for to secure financing, which can be troubling for a company whose expenses are already eclipsing its profits.

If, however, a company has a positive equity, this means that business owners have the option of acquiring capital by selling part of their business through equity, stocks and/or dividends.

In a sole proprietorship this is called the “Owner’s Equity,” in a corporation this is called “Stockholder’s Equity,” and it can include common stock, preferred stock, paid-in capital, retained earnings, etc.

Dividends Paid: profits paid out to shareholders by a company (applies to corporations)

Owner’s Draw: portion of the revenue used by company’s owner (applies to sole proprietorships)

Retained Earnings: the sum of a company’s consecutive earnings since it began

Having an Income Statement will assist you in filling out this section, since it helps you determine the Opening Balance Equity and the Retained Earnings.

5. Consider All Applications

When you put it all together, a balance sheet will probably look something like this:

A solid balance sheet can be used to secure financing or take a snapshot of a company’s current financial state, but it can also be used to evaluate the worth of your company over time.

Comparing your “Current Assets” minus “Current Liabilities” on a yearly basis will paint a picture of your company’s annual growth and expenses, which may have room for improvement. Calculating “Fixed Assets” minus “Fixed Liabilities” can provide a more long-term view of the company’s value over time, and its ability to pay back long-term debts or expenses built up over many years.

Remember, the expenses of different companies may vary greatly, don’t forget the assets and liabilities that are specific to your industry or area.